Solène Delinger 12:28pm, April 24, 2023

Saturday, April 22, 2023, Tony Parker and David Ginola were invited on the set of "What an era!". In front of Léa Salamé, the two former athletes evoked the relationship of the French to success and money, very different from that of the Americans. According to them, the French are indeed "jealous" of those who succeed and earn a good living.

Statements that have made a lot of talk... On Saturday, April 22, 2023, Tony Parker and David Ginola were both guests on the set of Quelle époque!, Léa Salamé's talk show. "Is it a big deal to make you fart?" the journalist asked them during the evening. A question that made Tony Parker smile: "They like this question too much in France!" replied the former NBA basketball champion, throwing a complicit look at his table neighbor, David Ginola.

Americans 'are proud of success,' says Tony Parker

"We send our children to school for what? Why do we tell children: 'You have to work well at school, you have to have a great job?'" said the former footballer. "It's a problem, in France, we don't say how much we earn! Me, in England, it was posted. Everyone knew how much people earned," he added. Tony Parker, who lived for several years in the United States, also observed that the relationship to money of Americans was totally different from that of the French: "Same. They are proud of the success and they are not afraid to talk about it, it is not a taboo subject."

️ "The French have a problem with jealousy" say @teamginola and @TonyParker

#QuelleEpoque@France2tv@LeaSalamepic.twitter.com/YuWQYkl5FE

"What a time! (@QuelleEpoqueOff) April 22, 2023

"The French have a problem with other people's money"

Léa Salamé then asked the former athletes if the French had, in their opinion, a problem with success or money. "With jealousy," replied David Ginola. "Same, jealousy," Tony Parker said. Present on the set, Christine Ockrent went in their direction: "The French have a problem with other people's money - theirs, they hide it - and jealousy, of course. Jealousy in the face of success is very French," she explained.

These analyses were not unanimous among Internet users, many of whom denounced the "contempt" of Tony Parker and David Ginola towards the working classes. "Earning money does not give you the right to lecture the French," said former police officer Bruno Attal.